PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
28 February 2024
Good afternoon, everyone!
PRESIDENT TO SPEAK AT UN ENVIRONMENT ASSEMBLY ON 29 FEBRUARY
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, is in Nairobi, Kenya, to take part in the Opening of the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, UNEA-6.
The PGA will deliver remarks at the High-Level segment, which will take place tomorrow, 29 February, at 10 a.m. (local time).
The overall theme of UNEA-6 is, “effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution”.
Mr. Francis will draw attention to the fact that biodiversity is degrading at the fastest rate in history and that the outcome of UNEA-6 must progress towards ensuring everyone’s right to clean, healthy and sustainable development.
Today in Nairobi, he held bilateral and separate meetings with the Head of the United Nations Country Team, Mr. Stephen Jackson, and the Director General of the UN Office in Nairobi, Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura, as well as with the President of UNEA-6, Ms. Leila Benali, before heading to a dinner meeting with UNEP Business & Industry Major Group.
We will bring you more updates as they happen.
GA TO HOLD PLENARY DEBATE ON ITEM 63 “USE OF THE VETO”
On Monday, 4 March, the General Assembly will hold a plenary debate on ‘Use of the veto’ – Item 63: Special report of the Security Council (A/78/786).
The debate on the use of the veto at the 9552nd meeting of the Security Council, held on 20 February 2024, under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, will take place at 10 a.m. in the GA Hall and will be webcast by UNTV.
PGA Dennis Francis will chair the plenary debate.
GA TO HOLD MEETING ON SITUATION OF UNRWA IN GAZA
This morning, President Dennis Francis has sent a letter to Member States informing that he will convene an informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly, on Monday, 4 March 2024 at 3 p.m. to hear a briefing from Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The meeting will take place at the GA Hall and there will be no pre-established list of speakers.
Due to the limited time available, time limits for individual statements will be three minutes and five minutes for statements on behalf of groups.
JUDGING PANEL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE 2024-2025 UN SIDS PARTNERSHIPS AWARDS
PGA Dennis Francis has selected the members of the judging panel following the nominations received from the Co-Chairpersons of the Steering Committee, for the UN SIDS Partnerships Awards.
The PGA’s selection of members is in accordance with General Assembly resolution 76/203 and its annex regarding the regulations governing the United Nations Small Island Developing States Partnerships Awards.
In a letter from 20 February, Mr. Francis announced the members of the judging panel for 2024-2025 as follows:
- Mr. John Gilroy, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, as Chair of the panel
- Ms. Kereeta Whyte, Deputy Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations
- Dr. Ibrahim Zuhuree, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations
- Ms. Fiona Indu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Solomon Islands to the United Nations
- Ms. Kate Brown, Executive Director, Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)
- and Dr. Satesh Bidaisee, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Graduate Studies, St. George’s University, Grenada
Additionally, the PGA informed that Mr. Sainivalati S. Navoti, Chief of the SIDS Unit, UN-DESA, and Ms. Tishka Francis, Head of the SIDS Sub-Programme, UN-OHRLLS will act as ex-officio members on the panel.
The UN SIDS Partnerships Awards will recognize the efforts of the best and most noteworthy, genuine, and durable partnerships in the implementation of the sustainable development priorities of Small Island Developing States.
The award shall be presented to three partnerships in recognition of their contributions to the implementation of the sustainable development priorities of small island developing States.
This is all we have for today. We will be back here on Friday. No video briefing tomorrow but you will receive the PGA’s speech from us through e-mail. By the time you wake up tomorrow, the speech will be there waiting for you.
Do you have any questions?
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